Insurance News Archive

Property improvements 'must be done right'

Any improvements investors make to their properties must be done right as substandard workmanship could cause the value of an estate to fall.

This is the advice of RatedPeople.com, which says that if investors are unable to do a good job of improvements themselves they should draft in the help of a professional.

"If you're going to spend any money or any time improving your house, it's crucially important to have it done right," said Andrew Skipwith, co-founder of the business directory.

He said potential buyers can be put off if they walk into a property and see that alterations have not been done particularly well, which can devalue the estate.

When employing outside help investors should seek advice in order to choose quality builders and tradespeople whom they can trust and who will do the job well.

According to a survey by Zurich Insurance 17 per cent of property owners who have attempted to carry out their own DIY projects have been forced to pay professionals to repair the damage they have done.

20 Mar 2008